Catamenial appliance.



I, 0. MYERS. GATAMENIAL APPLIANCE. AIPLIGATION FILED MAR. 21, 1912.

1 1 22,988, Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO4, PHOTO-LITHQ. WASHING TON D C constituting asaddle for JENNIE o. MYERS, or rennsrmn, Taxes.

CATAMENIAL APPLIANCE.

Application filed March 21, 1912.

ToaZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, JENNIE C. MYERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Palestine, in the county of Anderson and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Catamenial ppliances, of i which the following is a specification.

This invention relates'to catamenial appliances and is designed to be worn next to the body of the wearer, and in connection with the ordinary napkin now in use, during-the period of menstruation or in expectation of the recurrance thereof, to prevent the staining of the outer garments.

A further object of this invention is to provide an apron or catamenial appliance constructed of water proof material to which is attached a napkin now used upon such occasions, said napkin and catamenial appliance being attachable and removable simultaneously.

lVith the above and other objects in view, this invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangements of parts, all as hereinafter more fully described and illustrated, wherein Figure 1 is an elevation of the device illustrating the same flattened and unapplied. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section thereof illustrating the position of the elements as applied.

The present invention consists of a waist band of non-elastic material having suitable elastic strips interposed therein, and having its terminals secured together by lacings or other flexible members. An enlarged dependent apron is secured centrally to the rear side of this waist band and is adapted to hang downwardly at the rear of the wearer, in order that the wearer when seated may rest thereon, this apron being constructed of water proof material, prevents the outer garments of the wearer from being soiled and damaged. A tab of any suitable material, preferably of cotton or other similar material, is attached centrally to the rear part of the waist band, and is adapted to support and have secured thereto, the rear terminal of the napkin. A shield secured centrally to the apron aforesaid, is adapted to extend under the groin of the wearer and be attached to a tab by means of flexible members carried centrally upon the forward side of the waist band, said shield the napkin that Specification of Letters Patent Patented Dec. 29, 1914.. Serial No. 685,278.

receives the catamenial or menstrual discharge from' the uterus, the forward terminal of said napkin being secured to the tab secured to the free terminal of the shield.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 10 indicates generally a waist band comprising the rear section 10 and the forward section 10 One pair of adjacent terminals of said section being'connectedby the elastic strips 11, while the oposite terminals are provided with the flexiblememhers or tape which are adapted to secure the entire device to thebody or waist of the wearer in such a manner that an adjustment may be had.

11 apron 13 constructed of water proof material is centrally attached" to the rear section of the waist band 10 and adapted to be dependent therefrom in such a manner that when the wearer of the appliance is seated, she will rest upon said apron. A tab let of any suitable material, preferably of heavy cotton or muslin is centrally secured to the section of waist band 10 and adapted to rest against the inner side of the apron 13, said tab adapted to support the rear terminal of the napkin.

Attached centrally to the apron 13 and adjacent to the upper terminal thereof is a shield 15 constructed of water proof material, said shield adapted to operate in the groin of the wearer, and constitutes a saddle or support for the napkin. This shield 15 tapers to its forward or outer terminal.

he outer terminal of the shield 15 is provided with a heavy muslin or cotton tab 16 to which the forward or outer terminal of the napkin is secured. The outer terminal of the shield 15 is likewise provided with the flexible members 18, by means of which the forward terminal thereof may be supported by the forward terminal of the waist band. A dependent tab 19 is centrally secured to the forward section 10 of the waist band 10 and carries the flexible members or aprons 20 at its outer terminal, which are adapted to cooperate with the flexible members 18 and 20 to support the forward terminals of the shield 15.

From the foregoing, it will clearly be understood that before the device is applied, the napkin 17 is folded as desired, and has its forward and rear terminals attached by a safety pin or other suitable means, to the tabs 16 and 14 respectively, after which the waist band 10 is placed in position in such a manner that the section 10 is located at the rear of the wearer and the forward section 10 is located diametrically thereto, after which the strings 12 are so tied as to retain said waist band in its oper-' what I claim as new and desire to secure by U. S. Letters Patent, is

In a catamenial appliance the combination with a waist band of a dependent water-proof apron secured to said band, a depending; tab secured to the waist band and disposed centrally of the side edges of the apron and upon the inner face thereof, a depending tab similar to the first tab se- Copies of this patent may be obtained 101' five cents each, by addressing the Washington, D. 0.

cured to the waist band and disposed opposite to the first tab, flexible members secured to the free end of the second tab, a triangular water-proof shield secured at one end to said apron at a point above the lower end of the first named tab and interposed between the tab and apron, the other end of said shield being secured to the second tab, flexible members carried at one end of said water-proof shieldand to be tied to the flexible members on the second tab so as to be detachable therefrom, a tab secured to the last named and apex end of the shield and extending inwardly and upon the inner face of the shield, said first and last named tabs to support is loosely settled in the shield, the apex porti on of the shield being disposed to the front of the wearer whereby binding is prevented.

In testimony whereof I affix my in presence of two Witnesses.

J ENNIE C. MYERS. \Vitnesses:

WM. B. ROBINSON, H. I. MYERS.

, Commissioner of Patents.

anapkin so that the napkin signature 

